A look at Duncan Hunter’s environmental platform and record

Update: Duncan Hunter dropped out of the presidential race on Jan. 19, 2008.

Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter has served in the U.S. House since 1981 as a representative of California’s 52nd district, which encompasses areas east of San Diego. Hunter has earned a lifetime voting score of 9 percent from the League of Conservation Voters. Environment and energy issues are not mentioned on his campaign website and are not a priority in his presidential campaign.

Key Points

Acknowledges that global warming has occurred, but says it’s not clear how much human activity has contributed to the problem.

Quotable Quotes

“I think that global warming and the need to be energy independent gives us a great opportunity. I think we should bring together all of our colleges and universities, the private sector, government laboratories, and undertake what for this next generation will be a great opportunity and a great challenge to remove energy dependence on the Middle East and at the same time help the climate. I think we can do that. We need to take taxes down to zero for the alternative energy sources. We need to make sure that all the licensing from our laboratories goes to the private sector, goes to the American manufacturing sector, for these energy systems. I think we can do it.”

“Clean power production provides greater reliability for our electricity system while promoting cleaner air and water. In addition, according to the Energy Information Agency [sic], expanding renewable power production helps reduce the risk of future price increases for electricity. Today, renewable power sources provide consumers reliable power that is cost-effective over the long run. Unfortunately, their high initial capital costs discourages investment in renewables. Providing tax incentives for new renewable power production can make the difference. … Investment in new renewable power is good for the economy and the environment.”

— Feb. 27, 2003, speaking before the House of Representatives

Platform & Record In-Depth

Cosponsor of legislation in 2005 and 2007 to end the moratorium on offshore drilling in U.S. waters.

In 2003, cosponsored legislation to greatly restrict the presidential power to designate national monuments.

In 2003, cosponsored the Critical-Habitat Reform Act, which would have placed a number of restrictions on the creation of critical habitat for imperiled species under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2003, cosponsored a bill that establishes a timetable for how long federal “wilderness study areas” can retain that status, essentially forcing a decision on whether or not to designate an area as wilderness within 10 years. The bill also stipulated that areas previously studied for wilderness designation cannot be studied again.

In 2003, cosponsored legislation to authorize the U.S. to produce whatever amount of methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting fungicide, it had requested under the critical-use exemption process of the Montreal Protocol, even if the parties to the protocol did not approve the entire amount. The Montreal Protocol is intended to phase out pollutants that deplete the ozone layer.

In 2003, cosponsored a bill to extend the tax credit for electricity produced from biomass.

More stories in this series:

Bob Barr. Photo: Bob Barr for President In July, Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate for president, attended a big climate-change speech by Al Gore and found himself being praised by the former vice president for paying serious attention to the …

Updated 22 Aug 2008 Ralph Nader. Though Ralph Nader is running as an independent and not under the Green Party banner this time around, he still has some serious small-G green cred (at least among those not still livid over …